Decorating & Design
March 1, 2016
14 Rooms With Neon Accents To Brighten Your Day

We don’t care what T.S. Eliot says about April — March feels far more cruel. But luckily, there is an easy decorating solution for grey skies, snow and arctic winds: neon! Here are 14 rooms that incorporate ultrabright accents in a totally stylish way.

A chartreuse bench and orange-accented art pop against the dark entryway and crisp white walls. (Also, painting the entry in a dark color in contrast to the surrounding rooms gives that space an especially cozy, welcoming vibe.)

A few splashes of ultrabright color — hot pink art, a slouchy, aqua chair and small but colorful tchotchkes — add energy and whimsy to this minimalist, mostly-monochromatic vacation home in chic Palm Springs. Polished concrete floors, a crisp white envelope and unexpected architectural details (those plank ceilings!) are cool counterpoints to the deliberate pops of color.

A simple desk lamp feels edgy when transformed into a wall sconce (just bolt its base to the wall), especially when its cord is wrapped in fluorescent pink duct tape and left exposed for a relaxed industrial vibe.

A loft-like space surrounded by a Lucite balustrade has a mod playhouse feel. Open shelving was incorporated into the floating stairs for a storage-slash-display solution, while whimsical throw pillows play nicely with the hot pink accent wall and quirky rug.

Rich black walls feel extra-dramatic when juxtaposed with a sunny yellow front door. A stained glass transom window adds a trad touch to the otherwise contemporary aesthetic.

Painting out your moldings is a classic design move, but choosing a bold color that drastically contrasts with your walls will give your space a fresh, youthful feel. Here, deep brown walls (painted in Behr’s Wild Horse, #S-G-770) are a surprisingly perfect match for a neon door frame and risers (Benjamin Moore’s Bermuda Teal, #2044-50). An inky door and baseboard (Behr’s Beluga, #770F-7) have a grounding effect on the rich floors (Autumn Fest by Behr, #S-H-310).

Though this living room is brimming with cool, neon accents, keeping large investment pieces neutral makes it easy to switch up the look later if desired. For now, a hot pink curtain rod is a surprising hit of color, while hand-printed patterns in ultrabright hues liven up throw pillows. Crisp white walls and painted floors keep the abundance of color from overwhelming the eye.

A lime green door adds playful charm to this home’s trad exterior, but its ornate mouldings and vintage-look iron door handle keeps the overall look cohesive.

Bright turquoise walls were an inspired choice for this otherwise rustic-looking space. The color contrasts beautifully with the room’s plentiful wood tones, harlequin patterned floors and huge stone fireplace, adding a friendly, vivacious feel.

Prints hung with vibrant Post-It Note tape creates a quirky take on a gallery wall. A glowing lucite tray holds books bound in neon elastics, continuing the casual, playful vibe of this vignette.

A neon pink paper lantern casts a warm glow against this bedroom’s marigold walls for a whimsical spin on the otherwise traditional color palette.

Punchy pillows in juicy hues bring a vibrant color grade to this elegant room. Fluid chartreuse chairs and a neon yellow lamp offer an unexpected boho twist.

A neon glass sink radiates in this spare, modern bathroom. Iridescent penny tiles underfoot reflect the vibrant hue.

A florescent fuchsia pillow plays on the soft shades found in the blush drapes and cotton candy-colored artwork, adding oomph to the prim and proper space.